Azalea plant named ‘RLH2-3P8-2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘RLH2-3P8-2’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; relatively small and evergreen dark green-colored leaves that do not abscise during the winter; freely flowering habit with remontant flowering during the spring, summer and autumn; double-type flowers that are light red purple in color during the spring; and excellent garden performance and temperature tolerance.

Botanical designation: Rhododendron hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RLH2-3P8-2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant, botanically known as Rhododendron hybrida, commercially referred to as an evergreen Azalea plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RLH2-3P8-2’.

The new Azalea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact evergreen Azalea plants having dense growth habit, good winter leaf retention, large attractive flowers, flowers with good temperature tolerance, consistent remontant flowering habit, good garden performance and low and high temperature tolerance.

The new Azalea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in 2010 in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C., of a proprietary selection of Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number RLH-1020P8, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Rhododendron hybrida ‘RLH1-2P8’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,477, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Azalea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. in 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Azalea plant by semi-hardwood stem cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. since 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Azalea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Azalea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RLH2-3P8-2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RLH2-3P8-2’ as a new and distinct Azalea plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Relatively small and evergreen dark green-colored leaves that         do not abscise during the winter.     -   5. Freely flowering habit with remontant flowering during the         spring, summer and autumn.     -   6. Double-type flowers that are light red purple in color during         the spring.     -   7. Excellent garden performance and temperature tolerance.

Plants of the new Azalea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Azalea are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Azalea produce double-type flowers whereas         plants of the female parent selection produce semi-double         flowers.

Plants of the new Azalea differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘RLH1-2P8’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Azalea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘RLH1-2P8’.     -   2. Plants of the new Azalea have smaller flowers than plants of         ‘RLH1-2P8’.

Plants of the new Azalea can be compared to the plants of ‘Robleg’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,227. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C., plants of the new Azalea differed primarily from plants of ‘Robleg’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Azalea were more uniform in plant shape and         required less pruning to maintain a more uniform shape than         plants of ‘Robleg’.     -   2. Plants of the new Azalea flowered in the spring, summer and         autumn whereas plants of ‘Robleg’ flowered only in the spring         and autumn.     -   3. Plants of the new Azalea produced double-type flowers whereas         plants of ‘Robleg’ produced single-type flowers.     -   4. Flower petals of plants of the new Azalea were more undulate         and ruffled than flower petals of plants of ‘Robleg’.     -   5. Plants of the new Azalea and ‘Robleg’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Robleg’ had white-colored flowers.     -   6. Plants of the new Azalea were more cold hardy than plants of         ‘Robleg’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Azalea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Azalea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical two-year old flowering plant of ‘RLH2-3P8-2’ grown during the spring.

The photograph on the second sheet is a side perspective view of a typical two-year old flowering plant of ‘RLH2-3P8-2’ grown during the summer.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of plants of ‘RLH2-3P8-2’ grown during the spring.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in three-gallon containers in El Campo and Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Azalea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants used for the detailed description were two years old. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrida ‘RLH2-3P8-2’. -   Commercial classification: Evergreen Azalea. -   PARENTAGE:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number RLH-1020P8,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Rhododendron hybrida ‘RLH1-2P8’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,477. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 25 to 30 days at             temperatures about 27° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 35 to 45 days at             temperatures about 16° C. to 17° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 to 70             days at temperatures about 27° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 80 to             100 days at temperatures about 16° C. to 17° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             becoming light brown with development; actual color of the             roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form, plant and growth habit.—Perennial and evergreen             flowering subshrub; medium in height, upright to outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit;             rapid growth rate; freely flowering habit with numerous             double-type flowers.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially developing at every node; dense and             bushy appearance; pinching (removal of terminal apex)             enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 37.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 51 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 15 cm to 20 cm.             Diameter at base: About 5 mm. Internode length at fully             developed upper leaf axils: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Upright to outwardly spreading. Texture and luster,             developing: Pubescent, fine white-colored hairs; matte.             Texture and luster, mature: Woody; pubescent, fine rusty             brown-colored hairs; matte. Color, developing: Close to 146B             to 146C. Color, semi-hardwood: Close to 146A to 146C             becoming closer to 165A and 166A with development. Color,             mature: Close to N199B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Leaf             retention: Very good winter leaf retention has been observed             on plants of the new Azalea. Length: About 5.5 cm. Width:             About 3 cm. Shape: Elliptic, obovate to oblanceolate. Apex:             Acute; mucronulate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; ciliate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate; reticulate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; coriaceous, tough.             Luster, upper surface: Glossy. Luster, lower surface:             Semi-glossy. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: More             green than 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green             than N137A; venation, close to 146A to 146C. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to             146B to 146C. Petioles: Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 146B to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Double-type flowers             arranged mostly outwardly in clusters at terminals and             sub-terminals; two whorls with five petals each fused             towards the base with some or all of the stamens transformed             into petaloids.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, April to May, and then             remontant flowering during the summer and autumn, July to             October or until frost in USDA Hardiness Zone 6B.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with usually about             three to five flowers per terminal or sub-terminal.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers are durable and long-lasting;             depending on the temperature, flowers last about five to ten             days on the plant, dependent on ambient temperatures;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 6.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 3 cm.         -   Flower buds (before showing color).—Length: About 1.4 cm.             Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster:             Densely pubescent, matte. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Petals.—Length, outer whorl: About 3.5 cm. Length, inner             whorl: About 3.5 cm. Width, outer whorl: About 2.5 cm.             Width, inner whorl: About 2 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to             obovate; roughly spatulate. Apex: Rotund; undulate. Margin:             Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; rugulose; waxy to velvety in appearance. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N57C             to N57D; central spots and speckles, close to 53A. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to N57D.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity and appearance: If present, about four             to five per flower; irregular in shape and size. Apex:             Rotund; undulate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; rugulose; waxy to             velvety in appearance. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to N57C to N57D; central spots and             speckles, close to 53A. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to N57D.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five in a single whorl, fused at the             base forming a campanulate to star-shaped corona. Length:             About 4 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to deltoid.             Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire; ciliate. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent;             matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A to             144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong; flexible.             Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Proximally,             close to 144B to 144C; distally, tinged with close to 53A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens per             flower: If present, up to two; most if not all are             transformed into petaloids. Filament length: About 1.8 cm.             Filament color: Close to NN155A. Anther shape: Porandrous             with two oblong, tubular to lunate-shaped pollen sacks             basifixed to the filament. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther             color: Close to 164A. Pollen amount: None observed.             Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 3.4 cm. Stigma shape: Round             to flattened (capitate). Stigma color: Close to 59A. Style             length: About 2.6 cm. Style color: Close to N57A. Ovary             color: Close to 146A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Azalea to date. -   Garden performance & temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Azalea     have been observed to be very tolerant to rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −22° C. to 45° C. Plants of the new     Azalea are adaptable for USDA Hardiness Zones 6B to 9. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Azalea plants to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘RLH2-3P8-2’ as illustrated and described. 